Improvement in fruit-baskets



L. W. BEEGHER.

Bruit-Basket.

No. 198,446. Patented Dec. 25, 1877. Fig. 1. E Ft 2. HH W LI IHH Fig.4..g 5

WITNEIEEIEE'I a INVENTJE-H .W. BEES ATTYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

L. WHEELER BEECHER, OF WESTVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-BASKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,446, dated December25, 1877; application filed July 10,1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, L. W. BEEOHER, of Westville, county of New Haven,and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement inFruit-Baskets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full andexact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and-to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention consists, mainly, in the combination, with the bottompiece and side pieces of the basket, of staples or equivalent devicesfor securing the two together, the latter being applied in such manneras to span the joint between the side pieces, and to penetrate thelatter at some distance from their edges, as will be fully describedhereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improvedbasket; Fig. 2, a central perpendicular section; Fig. 3, a plan view;Figs. 4 and 5, detail views of the side pieces; and Fig. 6, a fasteningdevice which is equivalent to that shown in Fig. 1.

To enable others skilled in the art to make my improved basket, I willnow proceed to fully describe its construction.

A represents the bottom piece, made of any proper material, and of anysuitable size and shape, which is essentially provided upon itsperiphery with the angular groove or recess a, as shown.

B B represent side pieces of proper form and size, which are scored orcut transversely near their lower ends, as shown in Fig. 4, in orderthat the lower portion b may be readily bent at right angles, as shownin Fig. 5, to enter the groove a.

C C, Fig. 1, represent staples having widely-separated legs, which areapplied to the basket for the purpose of securing the side pieces to thebottom, in such manner as to span the joint between the side pieces, andto penetrate the latter at some distance from their edges, as shown inFig. 1.

C C, Fig. 6, represent an equivalent device, consisting of a shortmetallic strip, secured in place by simple nails.

D represents a securing-hoop composed of a strip or band, beveled uponits inner side to correspond with the taper of the basket, which islocated a short distance above the plane of the bottom piece, as shown.

E represents an upper hoop, by means of which the top of the basket isfinished; but any other proper means of finishing may be employed inplace of this, if desired.

If desired, the annular groove a may be formed in the bottom piece at anangle, as shown in Fig. 6.

The parts of the basket having been pre pared, the same may be puttogether, as described, in any proper manner.

The side pieces are used in a green state, in order that the bentportion 1), which is' quadrangular in its outline, may assume thesegmental form required by its position in the groove.

Some of the advantages of the described construction are as follows: Bythe employment of the staples or equivalent devices, as described, theparts are strongly secured together by economical means. The edges ofthe side pieces are perfectly held, although not fastened at thesepoints, the wood being pierced at a distance from the edge, to allow thenecessary shrinkage without splitting.

The fastening described is employed in the place of the usual base-hoop,the use of which latter is objectionable, because, from its posi tion,it is liable to injury from the swelling of the wood when the same isexposed to dampness.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the side pieces and bottom pieces, of thestaples or equiva lent devices, as described, applied to the former insuch manner as to span the joint and penetrate the wood at a distancefrom the edges, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the grooved bottom piece A and the scored andbent side pieces B, the staples c c, as described, for the purpose setforth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 28th day of June, 1877.

L. WHEELER BEECHER.

Witnesses H. A. BARNES, J. F. BENTON.

